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Santos and Maduro meet over Colombia-Venezuela border crisis Presidents agree to reopen Colombia-Venezuela border
(about 2 hours later)
The presidents of Colombia and Venezuela are meeting for the first time since border crossings between the two countries were closed last month. President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and his Colombian counterpart, Juan Manuel Santos, have agreed to gradually reopen their common border.
Ahead of the summit in Ecuador, Colombia's Juan Manuel Santos criticised Venezuela's unilateral move. Venezuela closed the border a month ago and launched a major anti-smuggling operation.
His Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, said he had been forced to act to curb the activities of Colombian paramilitaries and smuggling gangs. Mr Maduro says smuggling has led to shortages in parts of Venezuela.
Meeting in Ecuador, the two presidents also said they would return ambassadors to each other's capitals immediately.
Some 20,000 Colombians have left Venezuela since the crisis began.Some 20,000 Colombians have left Venezuela since the crisis began.
More than 1,500 of them were evicted due to alleged connections with criminal gangs operating in the area.More than 1,500 of them were evicted due to alleged connections with criminal gangs operating in the area.
Most of the others fled in fear, many carrying their personal belongings over the border rivers.Most of the others fled in fear, many carrying their personal belongings over the border rivers.
Before leaving for the summit in Quito, Mr Santos described the border crisis as "one of the saddest chapters in our history". "Common sense, dialogue and peace between our peoples and our countries have triumphed today," said Mr Maduro after the talks in Quito.
Most crossings were closed and some 3,000 Venezuelan troops have been deployed along the border when Mr Maduro launched a major anti-smuggling operation 19 August. For his part, Mr Santos said Venezuela "should have respected the rights of Colombians" who had to leave the country and return over the border.
As Mr Maduro arrived in Quito, he said he was "moved by the sincere desire to achieve a peaceful solution" with Colombia. The Colombian leader added: "I agree that criminal organizations working in the border area is a big problem, but the best way to deal with it is by working together."
"I come with concrete proposals to build a peaceful border, putting and end to paramilitaries, smuggling and drug trafficking", he said. Most crossings were closed and some 3,000 Venezuelan troops have been deployed along the border since Mr Maduro launched a major anti-smuggling operation 19 August.
"But we won't step back on the measures that we have implemented for the safety of our people."
For many years, heavily subsidised items from Venezuela, including cheap petrol, have been sold at huge profit over the border in Colombia.For many years, heavily subsidised items from Venezuela, including cheap petrol, have been sold at huge profit over the border in Colombia.
Mr Maduro says smuggling has led to shortages in the west of Venezuela and other parts of the country.Mr Maduro says smuggling has led to shortages in the west of Venezuela and other parts of the country.
The meeting is being facilitated by Uruguayan President Tabare Vasquez and his Ecuadorean counterpart, Rafael Correa. Monday's talks were facilitated by Uruguayan President Tabare Vasquez and his Ecuadorean counterpart, Rafael Correa.
The summit was preceded by two meetings between the Colombian and the Venezuelan foreign ministers.The summit was preceded by two meetings between the Colombian and the Venezuelan foreign ministers.